Oct 21, 2010 - eMarketer Staff
The mobile advertising market in the U.S. is set to skyrocket over the next few years, with spending expected to reach $743 million this year and top $1 billion in 2011, according to eMarketer.
"It is safe to say that many marketers who had not previously considered mobile advertising are now anxious to tap into its potential thanks to the stamp of legitimacy applied to the medium by the high-profile entrance of companies such as Apple and Google," said Noah Elkin, eMarketer principal analyst.
The firm estimates spending on mobile advertising will grow 79 pecent this year to $743.1 million, up from $416 million in 2009. SMS messaging is still the largest format in the mobile ad market, with spending expected to reach $327 million this year.
Full article...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
PPC Campaigns in Small Markets: 10 Top Tips
Andrew Goodman | September 24, 2010
How can one apply North American search marketing insights to a very small market in Europe? I was reminded of this question when I recently spoke at a conference in Norway.
Norway's e-commerce market is a slim 1 percent of that in the United States. I sometimes assume I instinctively "get" the small market equation, being from Canada. But in fact, our market is not particularly small, not even counting the fact that some Canadian companies have U.S. divisions.
Canada's digital universe, by contrast with Norway's, is 10 to 15 percent of that in the United States. Despite some shortcomings in the adoption of e-commerce best practices, Canada is often cited in the top three to five nations globally for broadband penetration, digital savvy, and things like Facebook usage per capita. (Cory Doctorow is Canadian. So is the founder of Friendster. Need I say more?) Among other things, Canada has sizeable operations from companies like Amazon, eBay, Google, Sears, Rogers-owned The Shopping Channel, and The Gap operating within its borders. Canada's population is 34.2 million; Norway's is 4.9 million.
Full article...
How can one apply North American search marketing insights to a very small market in Europe? I was reminded of this question when I recently spoke at a conference in Norway.
Norway's e-commerce market is a slim 1 percent of that in the United States. I sometimes assume I instinctively "get" the small market equation, being from Canada. But in fact, our market is not particularly small, not even counting the fact that some Canadian companies have U.S. divisions.
Canada's digital universe, by contrast with Norway's, is 10 to 15 percent of that in the United States. Despite some shortcomings in the adoption of e-commerce best practices, Canada is often cited in the top three to five nations globally for broadband penetration, digital savvy, and things like Facebook usage per capita. (Cory Doctorow is Canadian. So is the founder of Friendster. Need I say more?) Among other things, Canada has sizeable operations from companies like Amazon, eBay, Google, Sears, Rogers-owned The Shopping Channel, and The Gap operating within its borders. Canada's population is 34.2 million; Norway's is 4.9 million.
Full article...
Your Italian Restaurant Biz listing includes: Performance Statistics, Photos, Logo, Coupons, Directions. http://ow.ly/2Y6p7
Universal Search: Are Your Marketing Efforts Evolving With the Times?
Crispin Sheridan | June 30, 2010
Organic search results pages initially started out by offering 10 boring blue links that pointed to relevant pages of content that correlated to what a user was specifically searching for. As the Internet and search engines evolved and download speeds increased, so did the demand for rich media consumption.
In an effort to provide searchers with the most relevant content possible, Google and other major search engines developed "universal search" in 2007. Universal search refers to the ever-evolving nature of content displayed in organic search results pages - including anything from video, images, and maps to news, books, and products. One question every company should be asking themselves is "Are our online marketing efforts evolving with the search results?"
Universal search is providing many opportunities for search engine marketers to strategically gain competitive positioning and drive highly-targeted traffic to their content. Below are two compelling reasons why your company should be optimizing for universal search.
Full article:
(Click the QR-Code or scan with your mobile phone)
Organic search results pages initially started out by offering 10 boring blue links that pointed to relevant pages of content that correlated to what a user was specifically searching for. As the Internet and search engines evolved and download speeds increased, so did the demand for rich media consumption.
In an effort to provide searchers with the most relevant content possible, Google and other major search engines developed "universal search" in 2007. Universal search refers to the ever-evolving nature of content displayed in organic search results pages - including anything from video, images, and maps to news, books, and products. One question every company should be asking themselves is "Are our online marketing efforts evolving with the search results?"
Universal search is providing many opportunities for search engine marketers to strategically gain competitive positioning and drive highly-targeted traffic to their content. Below are two compelling reasons why your company should be optimizing for universal search.
Full article:
(Click the QR-Code or scan with your mobile phone)
SEO Versus PPC: Where's Your Budget Going in 2011?
Mark Jackson | September 1, 2010
How should you spend your search marketing budgets: on paid search advertising or search engine optimization?
It often depends on whom you ask.
Last month, I moderated a panel at SES San Francisco that explored that issue. Rand Fishkin, CEO of SEOmoz.org, and Benu Aggarwal, president of Milestone Internet Marketing, made the case for SEO. Arguments for SEO included the great land grab that exists for placement in local, news, blog, video, image, product feeds, and Web results and the opportunity for much better return on investment, based upon how much might be spent on the time/staff/agency necessary for the rollout of SEO. Rand contended that "PPC is easier" (which might lead you to believe that he's "pro" PPC), but then said that's not a competitive advantage. In other words, anyone can do PPC. It is actually a competitive advantage for people who put effort into a sound SEO strategy, because so many others (competitors) just can't seem to get their act together.
Full article...
How should you spend your search marketing budgets: on paid search advertising or search engine optimization?
It often depends on whom you ask.
Last month, I moderated a panel at SES San Francisco that explored that issue. Rand Fishkin, CEO of SEOmoz.org, and Benu Aggarwal, president of Milestone Internet Marketing, made the case for SEO. Arguments for SEO included the great land grab that exists for placement in local, news, blog, video, image, product feeds, and Web results and the opportunity for much better return on investment, based upon how much might be spent on the time/staff/agency necessary for the rollout of SEO. Rand contended that "PPC is easier" (which might lead you to believe that he's "pro" PPC), but then said that's not a competitive advantage. In other words, anyone can do PPC. It is actually a competitive advantage for people who put effort into a sound SEO strategy, because so many others (competitors) just can't seem to get their act together.
Full article...
Your Chinese Restaurant Biz listing includes: Performance Statistics, Photos, Logo, Coupons, Directions. LocalAdz http://ow.ly/30AZV
Does SEO Make Sense for Your Business?
Mark Jackson | September 29, 2010
When speaking with prospective SEO clients, there's one reoccurring question: "Is SEO right for my business?"
The easy and quick answer is "Yes…of course! It's the best investment you could ever make in your business!"
But, if we take a moment to peel back the hype and look at the underlying business implications, perhaps it's not.
Yes, I'm hardcore about the value of SEO. But, there are factors that you must consider before jumping in.
For some companies, SEO is the "We've gotta get someone to handle this SEO thing…hire someone, an agency or in-house employee, pronto," with little thought as to process, effort, timing, and business case for making the investment.
Full article...
When speaking with prospective SEO clients, there's one reoccurring question: "Is SEO right for my business?"
The easy and quick answer is "Yes…of course! It's the best investment you could ever make in your business!"
But, if we take a moment to peel back the hype and look at the underlying business implications, perhaps it's not.
Yes, I'm hardcore about the value of SEO. But, there are factors that you must consider before jumping in.
For some companies, SEO is the "We've gotta get someone to handle this SEO thing…hire someone, an agency or in-house employee, pronto," with little thought as to process, effort, timing, and business case for making the investment.
Full article...
The Easiest Way to Optimize Your Site
I'm taking a vacation in Marblehead, Ohio, on Lake Erie; we call it the "North Coast." Local sailors call the Great Lakes "sweet water." They like it because fresh water is a lot easier on their boats than sailing in ocean salt water.
These lakes are so big; the line of sight stretches into nothing but water on the horizon. You can easily get into the lake where all you see is water in all directions.
With an unobstructed view, the human mind extends into endless possibilities. Looking onto a vast continuous plane of water, there's nothing to guide your thoughts into a certain direction. With no buildings, hills, or trees jutting up from the earth, anything becomes possible in your mind.
The little tourist stores in town all have kitschy items with inspirational phrases reminding you to live the life you most dream about. The North Coast appeals to us because it reminds us that the guideposts within our lives are all illusions. We all actually live on a massive blank slate of potential.
Full article...
These lakes are so big; the line of sight stretches into nothing but water on the horizon. You can easily get into the lake where all you see is water in all directions.
With an unobstructed view, the human mind extends into endless possibilities. Looking onto a vast continuous plane of water, there's nothing to guide your thoughts into a certain direction. With no buildings, hills, or trees jutting up from the earth, anything becomes possible in your mind.
The little tourist stores in town all have kitschy items with inspirational phrases reminding you to live the life you most dream about. The North Coast appeals to us because it reminds us that the guideposts within our lives are all illusions. We all actually live on a massive blank slate of potential.
Full article...
Two Simple Tests to Try With Google AdWords Campaign Experiments
Andrew Goodman | October 8, 2010
Issues of test design, keyword auction dynamics, and statistical significance are complex. To help marketers more reliably test key variables in their AdWords accounts, Google has created a killer little feature called AdWords Campaign Experiments.
You've no doubt heard of the concept of A/B testing landing pages by evenly rotating them to website visitors. The same concept, applied to ad copy, is behind the ad rotation feature in major paid search platforms, introduced by Google in February 2002. (Note documentation in today's version of the feature. Ever sticklers for accuracy, Google now promises to rotate ads "more evenly," not entirely "evenly.") The reason these tests must be done with strict form is, of course, the scientific notion of control and an experimental group that lend statistical validity to any experiment. As much as possible, all other factors must be held constant to gain insight into the independent impact of changes in a single variable. Since those changes in themselves can touch off a dynamic response involving other variables, the two traffic streams being compared must be run concurrently with no bias in conditions.
Full article:
(Click the QR-Code or scan with your mobile phone)
Issues of test design, keyword auction dynamics, and statistical significance are complex. To help marketers more reliably test key variables in their AdWords accounts, Google has created a killer little feature called AdWords Campaign Experiments.
You've no doubt heard of the concept of A/B testing landing pages by evenly rotating them to website visitors. The same concept, applied to ad copy, is behind the ad rotation feature in major paid search platforms, introduced by Google in February 2002. (Note documentation in today's version of the feature. Ever sticklers for accuracy, Google now promises to rotate ads "more evenly," not entirely "evenly.") The reason these tests must be done with strict form is, of course, the scientific notion of control and an experimental group that lend statistical validity to any experiment. As much as possible, all other factors must be held constant to gain insight into the independent impact of changes in a single variable. Since those changes in themselves can touch off a dynamic response involving other variables, the two traffic streams being compared must be run concurrently with no bias in conditions.
Full article:
(Click the QR-Code or scan with your mobile phone)
50% of web traffic will come through mobile devices within 5 years
We'll help you create strategies for building a database of local consumers that will want to receive your special offers. We understand that your primary responsibility is to run your business, not spend countless hours trying to understand mobile communication methods. It is estimated that by 2015 one out of every three businesses in America will have a mobile marketing program.
Mobile Web Usage Is Exploding
If you don't have a mobile optimized site, or a mobile search campaign, or really anything mobile in your marketing mix, you are officially late to the party.
A recent Internet Trends presentation by Morgan Stanley forecasted that "50% of web traffic will come through mobile devices within 5 years." In fact, based on the rate of adoption, it is projected that the number of users accessing the Web via mobile devices will exceed desktop devices by 2014. A column I wrote at the end of last year cited 2009 as the year mobile search took off. And, I think my concluding statement in that column appears to be coming true: "And if 2009 was the year that mobile took off, look for 2010 and beyond to be the years that mobile search reaches its pinnacle." All of the research and data points surrounding mobile Web adoption rates seem to signal that not only will mobile search be exploding, so too will all forms of mobile Web activities.
Your Pub Biz listing includes: Performance Statistics, Photos, Logo, Coupons, Directions. LocalAdz http://ow.ly/3034T
New Foursquare 'I Voted' Badge Aims for GOTV Ripple Effect
A non-partisan group of digital political consultants, tech firms, and civic organizations, including Foursquare, has unveiled the check-in badge, which features a red, white, and blue U.S. flag-inspired design. By checking-in at their polling places using the badge, voters will notify friends and followers that they voted.
In addition to the check-in badge, the coalition devised a means of visualizing polling place check-ins. Using polling place data from The Voting Information Project - an information hub for voters - the system will track how many check-ins occur across the country at individual polling places on November 2. That information will be displayed throughout the day on Elections.Foursquare.com. Based on Foursquare data, the system will also compare voter check-ins by women to those of men.
Full article:
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Is It Really Facebook vs. Google?
During speaking engagements, the same question always pops up: "Is Facebook a big threat to Google?" When that happens, I ask the crowd: "Everyone who goes to Facebook when they want to buy something or research something they want to buy - raise your hand." Of course, nobody typically raises their hand. Then I ask, "Everyone who goes to Google when they want to buy something or research something they want to buy - raise your hand." Of course, everyone raises their hand.
Then I flip the question and ask, "Everyone who goes to Google to see what your friends are doing - raise your hand." And no one raises their hand. Then I ask, "Everyone who goes to Facebook to see what their friends are doing - raise your hand." Once again, I get what you would expect, everyone raises their hand.
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Then I flip the question and ask, "Everyone who goes to Google to see what your friends are doing - raise your hand." And no one raises their hand. Then I ask, "Everyone who goes to Facebook to see what their friends are doing - raise your hand." Once again, I get what you would expect, everyone raises their hand.
Full article:
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5 Ways I’m Using Facebook to Drive Traffic, Build Brand and Increase Reader Engagement http://ow.ly/30xJr
7 Questions to Ask On Your Blog to Get More Reader Engagement
Have you ever been ‘talked at’ instead of had someone ‘talk with’ you in a real life conversation? It doesn’t feel good to have someone talk AT you.
It leaves you feeling like you might as well not have been there at all.
Blogs can be like that and in this post we explore the power of asking questions on your blog and I share 7 types of questions you can ask to increase reader engagement.
The 7 questions are:
Full article:
(Click the QR-Code or scan with your mobile phone)
It leaves you feeling like you might as well not have been there at all.
Blogs can be like that and in this post we explore the power of asking questions on your blog and I share 7 types of questions you can ask to increase reader engagement.
The 7 questions are:
Full article:
(Click the QR-Code or scan with your mobile phone)
5 Ways I’m Using Facebook to Drive Traffic, Build Brand and Increase Reader Engagement
I was always a doubter when it came to using Facebook to promote a blog. I’m not sure why – but despite my best efforts I couldn’t seem to get Facebook to ‘work’ as well as I could with Twitter when it came to engaging readers, driving traffic and building community.
However in the last few months things have changed – Facebook has become HOT for me, at on my photography blog.
I’m pretty sure it’s more about how I’m using Facebook than any particular change at Facebook but I’ve started to see it become a lot more useful in a few ways including driving traffic (see chart below), increasing reader engagement and building brand. Here’s the traffic from facebook over the last 13 months (click to enlarge):
Full article:
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However in the last few months things have changed – Facebook has become HOT for me, at on my photography blog.
I’m pretty sure it’s more about how I’m using Facebook than any particular change at Facebook but I’ve started to see it become a lot more useful in a few ways including driving traffic (see chart below), increasing reader engagement and building brand. Here’s the traffic from facebook over the last 13 months (click to enlarge):
Full article:
(Click the QRCode or scan with your mobile phone)
How to Create a FaceBook Landing Page for Your Blog
After publishing the post I was asked a few questions about things that I brushed over that I thought might be worth following up upon. Here were the three main questions:
How did you make the landing page graphic?
How do you use the FBML application to serve up the landing page?
How do you make your landing page show up to new visitors?
Full article:
(Click the QR-Code or scan with your mobile phone)
How did you make the landing page graphic?
How do you use the FBML application to serve up the landing page?
How do you make your landing page show up to new visitors?
Full article:
(Click the QR-Code or scan with your mobile phone)
Receiving the Google AdWords Certified Partner designation will allow us to provide outstanding results for our clients! http://ow.ly/2XWkM
Making your brand work in the physical environment – exhibitions, interiors and signage http://ow.ly/19FbOu
Every Day Tips for CEO Branding, The New Corporate Branding Part II: Six Steps to use Public Speaking to accelerate ... http://ow.ly/19F4Hf
Every Day Tips for CEO Branding, The New Corporate Branding – Part I (What Is CEO Branding?) http://ow.ly/19F4He
Your Pub Biz listing includes: Performance Statistics, Photos, Logo, Coupons, Directions. LocalAdz http://ow.ly/3034T
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